(Closed) Uncomfortable situation

I am job hunting in what seems like a neverending process (in reality it has only been three months). I submit on university jobs on a regular basis, but there is an evangilical Christian college in the area that posts really good jobs all the time (administration type). The problem is that on the application you have to answer a short question about your personal relationship to Jesus. I’m athiest, but I know that putting that down immediately puts me at the bottom of the list. I have asked and in fact it is legal for them to ask that question. The problem is that these are really good jobs, but I feel so wrong about lying in order to be considered.

I haven’t submitted in a long time because I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. I refuse to lie in order to be considered, but my morals may be costing me a job. What would you do in my place?

@renwoman: I wouldn’t lie. I wouldn’t want to work in an environment that I completely disagree with anyway. If it were me, I’d just keep applying to other jobs with other companies. Your morals won’t cost you the RIGHT job for you…can you imagine actually working in that environment?

I would say something vague…like you believe that this position will help you gain knowledge on Jesus, Christianity and the Bible. Vague, and you will likely learn more in the position, but you’re not commiting to saying you’re in a relationship. It might not put you at the top of the list, but I think it’s better than writing non-existent lol

Don’t lie, BUT you can do this well. Perhaps just say that you were never brought up with Jesus but you DO live your life by his values (which is basically, be a good person, do unto others as you want them to do to you etc).

If you volunteer or do charity work, mention it.

It can’t hurt to apply and it sounds like they really need people so you never know!

Also, you can say that you believe that he was a really person and was crucified. Most historians believe that a man named Jesus existed and did many of the non-miracle things that are talked about in the Bible. So that is your relationship with him – you like his teachings, you believe he was alive but you don’t worship him.

I am an atheist and I lied about my “personal relationship with Jesus” to get a job once!

This job SUCKED. It was the worst thing imaginable, I really think that I had kind of minor PTSD from it, actually–I had nightmares and cried constantly. It was reedic. Fortunately, it was just for a summer before I started my Master’s and I made a buttload more money than I would have scooping ice cream or something. (This was also 2010, so I probably wouldn’t even have been able to get a job scooping ice cream, haha.)

Anyway, I say totally go for it if you need a job temporarily, but I don’t think it makes for a good long-term situation. I kept having to talk about my testimony and when my boss was mad at me, she would make me talk about how my walk with Jesus was going, lol.

Also, I totally didn’t feel guilty about it because, well, I don’t believe in God. Heh.

They might hire you just to “get you saved”, which would be equally as horrifying as them ignoring your application. Are you sure you want to work for an evangelical Christian college? I couldn’t even deal with growing up surrounded by them, let alone volunteering to work with them as an adult :-/.